Extra Care Options
As referred to in some of our consent forms we offer two main extra care options. They have been excluded from some of our basic packages to make them affordable to every client; however they can be performed upon request.
1. Fluid Therapy
Most drugs used for heavy sedation or general anaesthesia cause the patients’ blood pressure to drop. Undetected this can have serious effects on their cardiovascular system, and other organs most notably the liver and kidneys. The risk is increased if the patient is very young, is a senior, has a disease and if the procedure is invasive or lengthy. Intravenous fluid therapy provides an additional safety net by helping to maintain your pet’s blood pressure, which helps protect their vital organs, provides a rapidly available source of fluids in the event of an emergency and reduces recovery time.
Intravenous fluids are recommended in all patients undergoing a procedure estimated to be longer than 15 minutes and/or when pre-anaesthetic testing has been declined. It is highly recommended in all patients over 7 years (senior pets) and in patients with known health issues.
2. Pre-anaesthetic Blood Tests
These tests provide information about how well your pet’s major organs (for example, liver and kidneys) are working so we can assess the safety and suitability of medications/anaesthetics prior to the procedure. Even in seemingly healthy dogs and cats, pre-anaesthetic blood testing can pick up previously unidentified medical conditions and in doing so reduces the risk of complications by enabling postponement or change in a procedure or anaesthetic protocol if abnormalities are detected.
Pre-anaesthetic blood testing is recommended for all pets undergoing general anaesthesia or heavy sedation, and highly recommended in all patients over 7 years of age or in patients with known health issues. Our in-house laboratory enables us to perform these tests in-house and receive results within half an hour.